USA > New York > Ulster County > History of Ulster County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers. Vol. II > Part 42
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Mr. Hardenbergh has taken an active part in local poli- ties, and was a Democrat of the Andrew Jackson stamp. Prior to the death of his father he was elected a jaistice of the peace, andI filled the office for eighteen successive years. In 1861 he was elected supervisor of Shawangunk, and 1
held the office for seven successive years, during which time-the period of the war-the duties of the office were often onerous and trying.
He took strong ground in favor of a vigorous prosceu- tion of the war and a restoration of peace to all the States,
LiTé
WYV Nerdenbergh
but did not favor the sacrifice of a man or the expenditure of a dollar for the emancipation of slavery. Ile deelared against a national conscription law as it was one step towards centralized government, believing that the Federal government should call upon the several States to furnish their requisite quotas. He openly opposed in the Board of Supervisors the local bounties to volunteers, and claimed that the State should make one regular bounty, and thus avoid competition of towns and villages and a larze un- necessary expense. In this measure he was in the minor- ity, but when passed he opposed the scheme of bonding the county, and advocated an immediate tax to provide for the quota. He strongly opposed the town aiding by its bonds the railroad enterprise of 1866 and 1867, and carried a strong opposition at his own expense. In 1876 he was again elected supervisor to oppose the levy of the tax for the payment of the railroad bonds. In 1877, 1878, 1879, 1880 lie was re-elected for the same purpose. In the prosecution of claims against the town by those holding, its bonds Mr. Hardenbergh has defended the interests of the town, spending much time and money, and persistently claims and defends, to the extent of the law in the courts, injustice to the people of his town and usurpation of their rights in enforcing the bonding law.
22
PLATTEKILL.
1 .- GEOGRAPHICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE.
THIS town is situated in the southeastern corner of the county, and forms one of the southern tier of towns. It is bounded on the north by the towns of New Paltz, Lloyd, and Gardiner, on the south by Orange County, on the cast by the town of Marlborough, in which it was formerly inclu- ded, and on the west by the towns of Gardiner and Shaw- angunk. It comprises an area of 20,941 acres, and by the census of 1875 had a population of 2041.
The following is the legal description of the town as de- fined by the revised statutes of the State :
" The town of Plattekill shall contain all that part of said county bounded easterly by Marlborough, southerly by the bounds of the county, westerly by the cast bounds of two thousand acres of land granted to Peter Barbarie, aud the cast bounds of two thousand acres of land granted to William Huddleston, and the east bounds of two thousand acres of land granted to Thomas Garland, and northerly by a tract of land granted to Lewis Du Bois and the partners, called the New Paltz patent, and a tract granted to Noah Elting and Nathaniel Le Fevre, and a truet commonly called Mullender's Iract, and a tract granted to Hugh Freer, and the southerly line thereof continued to the east bounds of the said two thousand acres of land granted to the said Thomas Garland."-Revival Statutes, vol. i. page 220.
II .-- NATURAL FEATURES.
The surface of the town is quite irregular and diversified, and is broken by a series of ridges of an average elevation of three hundred feet above the valleys. The water-courses of the town are few and of no special consequence, being small brooks and ereeks, most of which have not even been honored with a name. Quassaic Creek is the principal of these. It rises near the centre of the cast border of the town, aud flows southerly into Newburgh. The soil is a fine quality of sandy and gravelly loam, and is productive and well tilled. Ordinary farm products are raised in abundance, and the raising of grapes and other fruits con- stitutes a leading industrial feature of the town. Marl- borough Mountain, a rocky ridge attaining an elevation of one thousand feet above the Hudson River, lies on the east border of the town, separating it from the town of Marl- borough. The rocky and ahuost impassable pass between the two towns has with great propriety been denominated as " Break-neck." Long and New Ponds lie near the centre of the town.
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III .- LAND-PATENTS AND EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The principal part of the town is comprised in the Sprett and Marshall, R. Bradley, Bradford Bradley, and Jeron aud Bond patents.
The first settlement was made about the close of the Revolutionary war. Prior to that time the present terri- tory was a wild and unbroken wilderness, and occupied alone by bears, panthers, and other animals.
The majority of the first settlers came from Westchester County, and were drawn to the locality by its rich soil and abundant supply of timber. Many of them belonged to the society of Friends, and carly reared their modest houses of worship in the north and south ends of the town.
Tradition has not handed down to posterity the name of the actual first settler of the soil. It is probable that a number of those whom we will mention as early coming from Westchester County made their advent about the same time.
From the records of the town we have been able to learn who were the residents of Plattekill in the year 1800,- the time of its incorporation as a separate municipal organi- zation. From the number of these it will appear that the settlement of the town for the closing twenty years of the eighteenth century must have been very rapid. So far as we have been able, we have indicated the portions of the town in which these settlers established themselves. The list is as follows : Coonradt Stuart, Samuel Pahner, Peter Van Order, John Stuart, Gideon Ostrander, Henry Lock- wood, John Decker, John Warner, James Harris. Gilbert Williams, John Stuart, Jr., Henry Stuart, Thomas Mott, Martinas Freer, most of whom settled in the north and west part of the town.
James Owens, Abijah Hait, Thaddeus Hait, Israel Hait, Israel Hait, Jr., John Merrit, Morgin Owen, John Scott, Amos Hait, in the east part of the town, and north of east.
Wilhelmus Ostrander, Christopher Ostrander, Wilhelmus Vandermark, Peter Ostrander, Jr., Robert Gilmore, Mar- tinas Freer, Cornelius Vandermark, David Ostrander, Abcl Ostrander, Henry Ostrander, Wilhelmus Ostrander, Dennis Ostrander, William Fowler, on Modena Street and around that section.
John Townsend, Justice Cooley, James Russell, Jr., James Russell, Gabril Fergison, Josiah Corwell, Joseph Kelley, Joseph Penny, Adua Haton, James Ross, Amasa Sprague, in the south part of the town.
Jehial Seymour, Timothy Lockwood, Benajah Lock wood, James Horton, Christopher Deyo, Dennes Relyea, Robert Thellern, Jeremiah Howel, Jr., John Jonson, in the east part, and north of cast.
John Gee, Adam Griffin, Abraham Vreightenbergh, John Gerow, Elias Gerow, Richard Garrison, Isaac Russell, Daniel Gee, in the south part.
William Drake, Roger Barton, Jeremiah Lock wood, Benjamin Sherwood, William Dobbs, John Comfort, in south part.
Joseph Clapp, Dr. Dodge, Job Wright, Josiah Brun- dage, Joseph Sherwood, Daniel Sherwood, Joshua Masten Jinces Jinkins, Andrew Garrison, John Baxter, Andrew Brundage, Daniel Brundage, Oliver Brundage, in the south and central portions of the town.
170
TIMOTHY SEYMOUR.
Timothy Seymour was born in the town of Plattekill, Ulster Co., N. Y., Oct. 29, 1803, the third child of William and Charlotte (Lockwood ) Seymour. His father was born also in Plattekill, Nov. 11, 1773. His mother. Charlotte Lockwood, danghter of Timothy and Susan Lockwood, was born Aug. 13, 1778. They had eleven children,-Mary, Charles, Timothy, Andrew, Isaiah, William, Susan, Daniel, Eliza, Lucinda, and Electa .-- all living except Timothy and Eliza. All were married and raised families except Isaiah, who was married but had no children. All these families are settled in Plattekill and towns adjoining. William Seymour, their father, died March 16, 1848; his wife, Dec. 1, 1802.
Timothy Seymour spent his boyhood at the homestead, on a farin now owned and occupied by William Traphagen. When he first left home he engaged as clerk in the store of A. A. Deyo & Co. at the village of Modena. Judge Abraham A. Deyo and John C. Brodhead, who were prominent men of Plattekill, constituted the members of the firm. Young Seymour's experience in the employment of these men was of great service to him in his subsequent business career. After a number of years he purchased the store, aud carried it ou until he bought the farm home in 1934, where his children still reside, and followed the business of farming for the remainder of his life.
He married Sarah Aun Ayers, March 14, 1844, the Rev. Edward OMdrin officiating. They had five children, as fol-
1
lows: Arthur, born Dee. 7, 1847, died April 24, 1855 ; Mary A., born Jan. 20, 1850; Rhoana, born Sept. 15, 1952; George T., born April 18, 1854; Theodore W., born June 5. 1861. The four latter are living at the homestead. In polities, Mr. Seymour was a life-long Democrat. He filled various offices of public trust; was at one time deputy under Sheriff Du Bois ; was postmaster for a number of years, town clerk several terms, and supervisor for the years 1818 and 1810. He was vice-president and director in the Huguenot Bank at New Paltz for many years, and at the time of his death. Though not a member, he was a regular attendant and supporter of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Modena. In the conduct of his business affairs, whether of a publie or private nature, he was methodical and exact. No matters of public interest ever suffered in his hands. He was endowed especially with the rare trait of keeping his own counsels. Ile was a great reader, kept thoroughly posted in current events, and though naturally reticent, when once drawn out, was both instructive and pleasing in cou- versation.
As a neighbor he was kind and accommodating ; as a husband and father, devoted and affectionate. Among those who have been prominent citizens of the town of Plattekill, and have been called from time, none have left behind them a more pleasing memory. He died Oct. 27, 1873; his wife. an estimable woman and worthy companion, beloved by all who knew her, died Feb. 21, 1872.
171
TOWN OF PLATTEKILL.
William Relyca, Elias Ostrander, Peter Ostrander, Dr. Plow, Peter Easterly, Abraham Ostrander, John S. Ter- williger, Haremanas Terwilliger, Jacobus Ostrander, More- uus Tarpening, John Terwilliger, William Gee, Jonas Rose, Peter Alsdorph, Dauiel Alsdorph, in the southwest part.
Joseph Clearwater, Jacob Sparks, John Chambers, Jere- miah Howell, Ichabod Williams, David Ostrauder, Jr., Jacob Lawson, in the central part.
Uriah Drake, James Sands, Jr., James Clapp, James Sands, John Devine, Daniel Mortine, Levi Hall, Stephen Ilalstead, Dr. Bailey, Daniel Sands, in the south part.
William Coutant, Isaac Garrison, Eben Hait, John Cou- stant, Edmond Turner, Joseph Turner, Henry Scott, Abner Shearman, in the central portion of the town.
Oliver Gerow, William Seymour, Daniel Seymour, Caleb Gee, Jesse Hait, Simon Ralyea, Hugh Skut, Nicholas Dean, John Vreightenbergh, John Hughs, Philip Hax- hurst, Charles Dimsey. Jacob Vankurin, William Vreigh- tenburgh, in the southern and central parts.
Daniel Cornell, Lewis Skut, Jacob Skut, Ebenezer Ray- mond, Samuel Raymond, William Horton, Abraham Strick- land, William Cornell, John Dingey, in the southwest parts.
John Bodine, John Goodman, John Terwilliger, Ebene- zer Strickling, John Ralyea, Jacob Strickling, John Grason, in the central and southern part.
Peter Daley, Cornelius Polhemus, Nathaniel Smith, Hopkins Dulittle, Joha Low, David Sherwood, Gered Ervia, Philip Keaster, Tuvis Keasler, in other parts of the town. Stephen Seymour, Daniel Everitt, Joseph Carpenter, Heury Abrahams, Peter Cole, John Sands, around Modena. Stephen Fowler, Reuben Fowler, James Dumon, Levi Ostrander, Lewis Davis, Peter Miller, Isaac Brown, Nich- olas Waldron, James Pettey, mainly in the castern part.
Jacob Brown, Gabriel Fowler, Andrew Gee, Frederick Cronk, Jeremiah Elless, Jabez Close, John Higgins, Jr., Zebulon Robins, John Barber, John Higgins, Richard Woolsey, Robert Tift, William Mott, Solomon Warring, Charles Wooley, Josiah Cooper, Isane Mort, Elias Matthews, in the northeasteru part.
Samuel Airs, Andrew Fowler, John Airs, Jesse Airs, Philip Airs, in est part.
William Gerow, Boriah Hartshoru, Trustom Russell, John Stephens, Johen Banks, in central portion of town.
Stephen Nottingham, Samuel Baldwin, David Phillips, Hezekiah Smith, Peter Freziner, Thomas Buchanan, Mary Brodhead, James Brodhead, Oliver Brodhead, Daniel Lawrence, Reuben Barnard, Abraham Decker, near Modeua and western part.
Adam Baker, Charles McKey, Matthew Partrick, Joshua Gee, John Freer, Richard Jouson, Simon Freer.
The limits of a work of this kind will adliuit of special mention of only a few of the early settlers of the town. William Gerow was one of the very first settlers of the town. He came about the time of the Revolutionary war, and located on the tract where his grandchildren Clarkson T., Peter C., and Raymond Gerow now occupy three separate farms. The last-mentioned grandson occu- pies the site of the old homestead. Isaac Gerow came to the town at or about the same time as William. The tract
of land which he originally took up has been divided into several farms. The Widow Cornelia Ann Gerow and her son-in-law, James Palmer, oceupy the original site of his settlement. John Gee located a little north of where Daniel Gee now resides. The family has always been quite numerously represented in the town. Timothy Lock- wood lived early north of John Gee, and between them resided Sammel Farmer. Obadiah Farmer was an early settler where John B. Ronk now lives. Isaac Garrison eame from Westchester County soon after the close of the Revolutionary war, and settled about a mile north of the valley, where Dr. Howland now resides. He raised a family of ten children, viz. : Deborah, Jane, Daniel, Richard, Denton, William, Andrew, and Moses (who died young), Martha, and Isane, a practicing physician at Newburgh. All of this large family, save two of the daughters, located ia town. All are now dead save the doctor. Richard Garrison lives on the old William Garrison place. This William was the father of Isaac. Andrew, another son, settled in the town contemporaneously with his father and brother, and located near by. His son, Isaac, is uow one of the oldest residents of the town.
Benjamin Russell came from Westchester County just after the close of the Revolutionary war. During that eventful struggle he was falsely suspected of being a Tory, and was obliged to sell his farm and go to Long Island. After the close of the war he bought his farm back. He soon after came to Platte kill and established himself where Henry L Brown now lives, in the sonth part of the town. Ile was twice married, and had four children by each union. His first wife's children were Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Susan ; his second's, James, Benjamin, Hannah, and Betsey. All settled in town. Henry Jones' wife, Anna, is a daughter of James. Heury L. Brown married James' grand- daughter. Beriah Hartshorn came from Westchester County about the same time as the Garrisons, and located where Barick Birdsell lives. Hle brought five children with him, viz. : Joseph, David HI., Josiah, Lucy, and Julia. Andrew, son of Joseph, resides in Newburgh. Daviel W. and Isaac reside in Plattekill. Isaac and Jacob Brown came from Prekskill soon after the close of the Revolutionary war, and both settled on " the Patent" in the south part of the town. That whole section was then known as Freetown. Isaac married Rachel Lock wood and had seven children, Anna, Hannah, Mary, David, Henry L., Benjamin, and Sarah. HIenry L. was born Jan. 13, 1802, and has always resided in town. Mary became the wife of William Garrison. Jacob Brown married Betsey Trout, and had five children, viz. : David, John, Mary, James, aud Eliza. The latter is his only living descendant in town.
Other early settlers in the south part of the town were Justus Cooley. Adam Griffin, Zopha Green, who built the grist-mill owned by John B. Gerow at the valley, Allen Higgins, Uriah Drake, Jonathan Tabor, Josiah Brundage, Daniel Hunt, Abraham Strickland, and Lemuel Light. Adam Griffin located where his grandson Harvey resides. A granddaughter is the wife of Richard Garrison. Jonathan Taber lived where James Birdsell resides. Abraham Strick- land settled early where David Ward lives. Lemuel Light located where Aarou Ragnioud now resides. A daughter,
172
HISTORY OF ULSTER COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Elizabeth, married Henry Clapp. Mr. Light's descendants are still to be found in town. One married Daniel Gerow. Daniel Hunt located a mile west of the valley, and had several sons and a family of seventeen children in all, of whom fif- teen reached adult years. His oklest son removed to Herki- mer Co., N. Y. Other sons were William, James, Daniel, Stephen, and John, a physician. His granddaughter, Maria, daughter of James, resides in town, and occupies the old homestead. William, son of Daniel, lives in the neighboring town of Montgomery. One daughter married Dr. Perry, a physician of New York, and another Col. Alexander Ross. Newinan Reynolds came from West- chester County soon after the close of the Revolutionary war, and was then about thirty years of age. He brought his wife, Sarah, with him, and had children born in town,- Henry, Elijah, Sarah, Mahala, Isaac, Enos, and Newman. Mr. Reynolds lived about two miles west of the valley. Henry died in 1868, aged over seventy-five. James L. resides in town. A number of the other children are still living. Elijah resides in Greenfield, this ceunty, Isaac and Enos live in Marlborough. Newman resides in the town of Shawangunk. Maria is Fowler Green's wife at Newburgh.
The Thompson family located at an carly day two miles west of the valley, on property now owned by the Hait family. The head of the family was a Baptist preacher, and in compliance with the Divine injunction to " increase and multiply," he ecn.tributed twenty children to the world of flesh. Charles Thompson is still a resident of the town. Zepharish Budsell settled about two miles southwest of the valley at an early day, and near where his grandsons, Samuel and Albert, occupy lands. Mr. Birdsell subsequently removed to the State of Ohio, and died there. Gideon Birdsell, a son of Zephasiab, lives in town a portion of the time. The Duzenberre family settled early about half a mile south of the village of Modeua. Dr. Pasenberre was the head of the family, and was killed by the kick of a horse. He had a number of children, among whom were Theodore; Samuel, and several daughters. Que daughter became the wife of John Hait, another of Abram Woolly, another of Nathaniel Barnes, and another married a Pratt. The Nottingham family lived near the Daseubeires, and occupied a large farin. A daughter married Richard Cole.
John Bodine settled in the town at an early day about a mile west of the valley, where his grandchildren still own. His sons were Jobu, Heury, Peter, Levi, and Isane, all of whom settled near by. Henry became the father of Col. John Bodine, who was a prominent member of the Ameri- can team in the International Rifle Shooting Matches of recent date. He is known by the sobriquet of .. Old Re- liable." A daughter of Peter is the wife of Harvey Griffin. Adeline, a daughter of Levi, lives in town a part of the time. In the northeast part of the town the Hait family came in as early as any. Daniel Gregory, Benjamin Firman, and Jabez Hull also came from Westchester County at an early day. Daniel, William, Jehiel, and Stephen G. Sey- mour were also carly settlers in the east part of the town, and the Everitt, Deyo, Griggs, and Church families were among other carly and prominent families.
In 1786, Israel Hlait came from Bedford, Westchester
Co. He was born Nov. 18, 1733, at Bedford, and was a son of Jonas and Sarah Hait of that place. He brought with him a family of eight children and his wife, Joanna. The children were Israel, Abijah, James, Jemima, John. Amos, Hannah, and Huldah. In 1790 another son, Thad- deus, came and settled in the town. He resided at Ballstou Spa Saratoga Co., from 1786 to 1790. Israel Hait located where his son Israel afterwards resided. All of his children located in town, and are quite immerously represented. John R. Hait is a son of John Hait, and a resident of the town. Amos, son of Amos, resides in town. Rachel, a daughter, is the wife of Charles Gee. Daniel Hait, son of Amos, passed his life in town. James HI., Ira, William S., and Iliram G., his sons, all reside in town. Huldah, a daughter, married James T. Ellis, and lives at Clintondale.
Thaddeus Hait married Rachel Holmes, of Bedford. He had three children who attained ages of maturity, John. Ira, and a daughter, Rachel. John, born in Bedford, 17SS. married Elizabeth Duseuberre, and had two children that grew up. Thaddeus Hait is a prominent and influential citizen of the town. Rebecca is the wife of George Everitt, and a resident of the town. Rachel J., wife of Oscar His- brouck, is a resident of the town, and a daughter of Ira Hait. Rachel married David Elting, and has one son, a resident of the town, Tra H. Elting.
When the Hait family first settled in the northeast part of the town, no improvements had been made in that locality, and a dense forest covered the land. It was this fact that attracted Thaddeus Hait to the town. He was a tauner by trade, and found here the abundant supply of bark which he souglit. Hle erected a tannery in what is now a portion of Thadleus Hait's garden, carried on tanning a number of years, and was succeeded by his son John.
Perhaps it would be well to mention in this connection a few of the later settlers of the town.
Aaron Raymond came from near Litchfield, Conn., in the year 1820, and engaged in school-teaching and store- keeping. He had an early store at " the Flint," or New Hurley. Ile married Eliza Clapp, and settled finally ou . the old Light homestead, which has already been men- tioned. Here Mr. Raymond still resides, at the advanced age of eighty years.
David Osborn was one of the earliest of more recent settlers, and located about a mile and a half west of the valley. He had a large family, among whom were James. Robert, and David, but the family did not remain permy- nently in town.
The Drake family lived quite carly near Osborn's, but subsequently removed to Ithaea.
Peter Dougherty was another carly settler of the town. and lived two miles west of the valley. Robert and Mareus were sons, of whom the letter, a physician, en- gaged in practice in Marlborough. Two of his four daughters reside on the old homestead.
John B. Morrison came from Vermont quite early, and settled near by. He engaged chiefly in school-teaching and had several sons.
Abram Smith and Nathaniel, his son, settled quite early about two miles west of the valley. A grand-ou of the latter resides in town.
173
TOWN OF PLATTEKILL.
David Sherwood settled quite early two miles west of the valley. A daughter married Hait Gee, and resides in town.
Caleb Birch settled quite early in the southwest part of the town, near the Newburgh line. His sons were Pulaski, Mareus, and Montgomery. Marcus owns the home-farm, but resides in Shawaugunk.
The Easterly family came in quite carly, and settled near New Hurley. John, Abram, and Peter were sons. Linus, son of Abraham, occupies the old place.
Harmonus Terwilliger settled near by at an early day, and had sons and daughters. His grandson, Daniel, re- sides in town.
Abram O-trailer settled in the west part of the town, near New Hurley. His son, Hait, now occupies the home- farur. Reuben Ostrander was also quite an early setiler. A son, John, resides at Modena. A daughter beeaine the wife of Peter Bodine.
William Relyea and family were early residents of the west part of the town. Wallace, son of William and grandson of the first William, occupies the land.
Daniel Olsderph lived early in the extreme west end of the town. Bogardus Olsdorph is now a resident of the town.
John, Richard, Alexander, and Ware Cole were early residents of Modena. The former was a lawyer, and prae- ticed his profession for many years. William, another brother, lived at Hurley.
John C. and Richard Brodhead were carly and promi- nent settlers at Modera. The former became a meu! - r of Congress, and was at one time sheriff of Ulster County. Another brother was a lawyer at Utica, and still another was a physician, and passed his life in town.
Jacob Westbrook settled quite carly about a mile and a half west of Modena. He married a Lefevre and had children,-Andrew, Jonathan, James, Du Bois L., Eliza- beth, Sarah Aun, and Abram. The family is not now represented in town.
Near the Hait families Daniel Gregory settled. He had a sou Milton, whose son became a Methodist minister. A grandson of Daniel Gregory, bearing the same name, , lives in town.
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